Carl and Donna Brayshaw, who have owned and run The Sun for over five years, are using grants to convert an area in the pub’s snug with new shelving for over 600 books, more comfortable seating and two computer terminals offering access to the internet.

The community library has been set up with the support of Huddersfield District Committee and by the rural pubs organisation, Pub is The Hub, a not-for-profit organisation started by the Prince of Wales in 2001.

Authour Nick Stead at his home in Golcar, Huddersfield.

Donna said: “We soon realised that we didn’t only need to give The Sun a facelift - we needed to change its heart, so that is what we are working hard to do.

“Our idea for the library was to give something back to the community and, like every village pub, to be at the very heart of it.”

Mr Stead published ‘Hybrid’, the first of a horror series about a werewolf, last summer and is a member of the Huddersfield Authors Circle.

Kirklees Council announced last year that it will fully fund only eight of its 26 current libraries. Thornhill Lees faces closure along with Lepton, and a number of libraries, largely in small villages or suburbs of Huddersfield, will be run by one council employee backed by community volunteers.